ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Back then, the task felt like a rookie chore.

Now, it's a weekly reminder of a friend.

When Courtland Sutton entered the league in 2018, the late Demaryius Thomas instructed the rookie wide receiver to continue a weekly tradition.

"It started off as like a rookie duty that he kind of gave me," Sutton said Wednesday. "He was like, 'Hey, like I've been doing this, but I'm going to pass it to you.'"

Thomas had long ordered donuts for those inside the Broncos' facility and brought them in on Saturdays. In 2018, that became Sutton's job — and when Thomas was traded to the Texans later that year, Sutton kept bringing in the donuts.

"When he left, I was like, 'I'll keep it going,'" Sutton said. "It was something that I saw brought a lot of joy to people in the building. It was like a small tribute to him."

And it became even more meaningful after Thomas unexpectedly passed away late in 2021. The donuts became more than just donuts. The weekly phone call to the store became a reminder of a former teammate. It became a way to stay connected to Thomas, who will be inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame this weekend.

"It felt like it was one of those things that every Saturday I get a chance to call in and order donuts, it's a small, little wink," Sutton said. "He's always still around."

Sutton said now, eight years into his carer and nearly four years after Thomas' passing, many people inside Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit don't know the origin of the weekly donut delivery. But for those who do, it's a frequent nod to a friend they lost too soon.

"It's one of those things that, for myself and for the people that got to spend time with him and understand where the donuts came from, it's a reminder that he gets to still be here," Sutton said. "He may not be here physically, but he has such a lasting impact that he's not going anywhere from this organization any time soon."

Thomas' impact on Sutton was significant, and the Broncos wide receiver said he's been eager to see Thomas inducted into the Ring of Fame.

"D.T. means the world to me," Sutton said. "I have been waiting for this day of him getting his recognition from this organization, because of all the things he's done for the Broncos organization."

Sutton tried to express some of that to Jonathon Cooper during a portion of Wednesday's practice. But Sutton was barely even through the beginning portion of what he described as his "speech" about Thomas when the practice period ended.

Though the two players spent less than a year as teammates, Thomas' lasting impact on Sutton is clear.

"I know that this dude loved Denver," Sutton said. "He loved Broncos Country. He loved being able to call this place home for the [nine] seasons that he was able to be here. The small amount of time that I was able to spend with him was some of the most impactful time that I've had being a Denver Bronco. I know that if I didn't have the guidance of him and Emmanuel [Sanders] in the room for me as a young rookie, I don't think that I'm able to build the character and build the player that I became without that guidance. I think so highly of D.T.

"I can talk all day about him. I didn't get to spend a whole bunch of time with him, but the time that I did get to spend with him, he was so impactful. I can sit here and talk all day about just the man he was. Beyond the football player, just the man he was. He carried himself in such a way that you can only aspire to be talked about in the likes that he's talked about just as a person."

This weekend, Thomas' Ring of Fame pillar will be unveiled and his name will be added to the Level 5 facade at Empower Field at Mile High. Every time Sutton looks up on game day, he'll see a reminder of his friend. But he'll also keep that small wink that comes from a weekly order to honor Thomas.

One box of donuts at a time, Sutton will continue to keep Thomas' legacy alive.